If

Scott Thompson doesn't get a game before season's end ...

 then ... we'll be very surprised. Deserves a chance.

If

we've been critical of Rocky ...

 then ... we need to be fair here. He's been very, very good this year.

If

it was Liam Jones last week ...

 then ... no reason it can't be Blaine Boekhorst this week. Wishing him luck, as he's copped a lot of unfair heat.

Liam Jones played the game of his life last week. Picture: AFL Photos

If

you don't get Elliott back soon ...

 then ... there's no finals. Every bit as important, arguably more so, than Pendlebury, Grundy, Sidebottom, Treloar, Adams.

If

big Belcho maintains his form from round 12 through to the end of the season ...

 then ... this is going to be one serious footy side.

Tom Bellchambers has been in hot form. Picture: AFL Photos

If you wanted to undo every bit of positivity rightly earnt in rounds three to nine ... then ... congratulations, you did it with a truly pathetic past three matches. We've stuck fat with the Ross The Boss stuff, but we're just about done.

If you keep teasing us and then letting us down in a crunch game ... then ... we're unconvinced. You'll be thereabouts as always, but you're not winning it.

If you've just secured two consecutive wins for a total of five after 11 games, with Carlton, St Kilda, North, Sydney and Collingwood up next ... then ... you're still a finals chance. This club, though, since its inception, has never produced consistency.

If there was an award for faux outrage this week ... then ... it would go to this mob. Nick Maxwell knew exactly what he was doing. Spare us the cry-foul rants of those around him trying to defend his boundary-crossing gamesmanship.

If you're smart about this from here ... then ... you cotton-wool O'Meara. No point putting pressure on him to play again this year. Get him right for 2018.

Will Jaeger O'Meara play again this year? Picture: AFL Photos

If

you don't stand up against the Bulldogs, and that doesn't even mean you have to win ...

 then ... forget having an impact on 2017. We really like what we are seeing, but we need to see it this Sunday to be convinced.

If the club was bigger than the individual with the decision to end his career ... then ... we don't see the reason, a year later, to retire the No.29 guernsey. And we still associate that jumper with Phil 'Long Bombs To Snake' Baker more than Boomer anyway!

If

there was one Power player we didn't expect to be axed this year ...

 then ... it was Pittard.

Jasper Pittard was surprisingly dropped by the Power. Picture: AFL Photos

If Nankervis wants to really rub it into the Swans that they traded out the better ruckman ... then ... he'll do a number on Naismith in this game. But will he? Very big moment for him.

If

someone writes some nasty words about you, Joey, ...

 then ... we'd reckon your body of work over 16 seasons would be sufficient enough to not give two hoots. Derm – every right to express a strong opinion. Joey – every right to not care.

If you start 0-6 ... then ... you don't deserve to still be in the premiership hunt. But you are. And you know it.

If

you've been beaten to three-quarter time against the comp's best player but stand up in a difficult last quarter ...

 then ... a big well done. Don't know what happened in 2016 to Yeo. But he's the standout best-and-fairest to this point of this year.

Elliot Yeo was again among the Eagles' best on Thursday night. Picture: AFL Photos

If in the history of the VFL/AFL there's been a more ruthless coach with team selection than Bevo ... then ... forget it. There hasn't been.

And by popular request ...

If

it was up to us ...

 then

... Clarko would've copped a financial sanction four, maybe five, times greater than the $5000 he was given. And been told his next umpire abuse transgression would be a three-game suspension.

Follow Damian Barrett on Twitter: @barrettdamian